Flight Training in Tuskegee

The path to a future in aviation can start in many different ways. For a lucky few, it starts at Tuskegee University in collaboration with the LIFT Academy^® flight training program. It’s a unique opportunity for students to begin their careers as aviators while simultaneously pursuing a degree. We talked with Titus Sanders, Director of Aviation Science at Tuskegee University, about this partnership.

A Prime Location

“Our students come from all different studies and places, but they all share something in common: a passion for flying,” said Titus.

No matter where they come from, they’ve certainly come to the right place for their flight training. Southern Alabama is known for its ideal flying conditions, and aviation is a huge part of the culture and history here in Tuskegee.

Tuskegee is home to the legendary Moton Field, the original training grounds of the first Black flying unit in the United States military, the Tuskegee Airmen. Their incredible legacy is upheld and supported by the teachers and students who study, work and fly here today.

“It’s an honor to maintain the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen while uplifting the next generation of aviators,” said Titus.

A Laid-Out Training Schedule

Students start flight training at the same time they start their classes at Tuskegee University. That way, they’ll be ready to pursue a career in aviation by the time they earn their degrees.

“It’s a rigorous schedule,” said Titus. “But then again, you won’t succeed as a pilot without that kind of drive and determination.”

During their first semester, students learn some procedures but mainly focus on preparing to take and pass their FAA Private Pilot Written Exam. In the next semester, students take a Private Pilot Lab, where they likely receive their Private Pilot’s License.

After earning their Private Pilot’s License, students will pursue more instrument ratings and take more written exams. That training culminates in the last semester of their junior year, where students earn the final rating of the LIFT Academy flight training program: the multi-engine rating.

“At that point, students will have completed the LIFT Academy flight training program,” said Titus. “They won’t be commercial airline pilots yet, but the LIFT program can still help them get there.”

A Clear Career Path

By the start of their senior year, students can start building the flight hours needed to become commercial airline pilots by working as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) at the LIFT training program.

Working as a CFI allows students to build flight hours while also getting paid to do so. It fast-tracks their path to becoming commercial airline pilots, further hones their skills and helps them build flight hours regularly — something that would be tough to do on their own.

“It’s an incredible opportunity,” said Titus. “It gives students a clear path forward and lets them hit the ground running.”

Once students have built enough flight hours and completed their studies at Tuskegee University, it’s time for them to move on to the airlines. Graduates of the LIFT Academy flight training program have a direct pathway to Republic Airways^®, one of the nation’s top regional airlines. That gives graduates the benefit of not having to interview with Republic when they apply, and it gives them preference over non-LIFT applicants.

“No matter where our students end up, we’re proud to have helped them get there,” said Titus. “Our goal is to see their careers take off.”

Are you ready for your aviation career to take off?

Apply today or learn more about our partnership with Tuskegee University at flywithlift.com.